The National tribune., 1887-01-13
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY 49,

dered to burn all superhuous cloting. Fires
were started and blankets, overcoats and other
garments that could be spared were burned.
On the 30th the column started forward again,
and soon encountered another blockade, which
required hours to remove. John Morgan had
been there in advance 1t was evident that
the enemy was endeavoring to retard Morgan's
progress, and enable MARSHALL TO reach Grayson
before him.
On the 30th the column reached a point
where the road ran through deep, stony
gorge, heavily blockaded with immense bould-
ers and fallen timbers. Morgan set brigade
at work TO remove il, and sent forward another
brigade, which encountered bloekades of a SIM
liar character which required several hours to
remove. On that day
SEVEN SUCH BLoCKADEs
were encountered and removed, and road was
built around bridge which John Morgan's cav
airy had burned.
Here the rebel cavalry were encountered and
a sharp conflict ensued. A rebel Captain was
captured by an artillery Sergeant and private
of the 42d Ohio Two pieces of "solid" corn
bread were found in his saddle pockets, and the
captured chattels were divided into two lots,
the horse and saddle constituting one, and the
corn bread the other, and the Sergeant gave the
ADD man his choice between the two lots. Hun
ger quickly settled the choice and the poor fel-
low eagerly chose the bread.
Rebel bushwhackers now began to harass the
column day and night During the 30th Cap
| tain of one of the Tennessee regiments received
shot through both lungs from a small band
ofthese marauders The column proceeded and
reached Grayson at IL o'clock on the night
of Oct. /, John Morgan having left there
early in the afternoon of the same day. Here
he ceased to annoy the Federal column. Gen.
Morgan says:
Our loss in killed wounded and prisoners was
know, but from the bloody evidences which were
found in the positions occupied by his troops his
loss must have been double our own.
As the column approached Grayson 1t stag
gered with weakness and fatigue. For %
hours the soldiers had been marching and work
| ing, and in that time had not tasted food. Even
| the insipid pawpaws had failed, and as. the
soldiers marched under the oaks they picked up
and greedily devoured the acOrns that lay under
them. Gen. Morgan had now passed the Rubi-
con. Grayson was the last point ut which the
| enemy could intercept him, and that was IN his
possession. Morgan had passed the blockades in
onehalf the time that the enemy had caleu-
| lated, and had reached Grayson two days earlier
| than they had expected. Those two days were
| the salvation of Morgan's Division. The cav
airy, driven out ofGrayson, retreated westward,
met Marshall, and informed him that he was
too late, that the Yankees were in possession of
| Grayson, and the pursuit ended there.
1t was but 10 miles to Greenupsburg, the OBJ
| jective point of that terrible march Of retreat,
and the troops were anxious to press on. At four
| o'clock in the afternoon De Courcey's Brigade
moved out as an adyance-guard, followed by
| the train and the remainder Of the division.
As the last brigade left the town ii was reported
that the enemy was moving 10 attack the diyis-
/ ion. A brigade was quickly formed in line OF
| battle, and Fosters battery run into position
and double shotted TO receive him. But the
rebel force proved to be only a small band
of troopers who had moved up TO occupy the
town when Morgan left, but they had no in
tention whatever Of hurrying him away. The
weary and ragged troops were nearing the Ohio.
where an abundance of food, rest, clothing, and
news from home awaited them. They had not
heard from home since August. 1t was now
the Sd Of October.
No tagging or struggling for acorns now.
Every man was in his place and
MARCHED RAPIDLY AND JoYoUsLY.
| The lost army of Cumberland Gap at length
reached Greenupsburg, whose white walls and
| spires glittered in the bright October sunshine.
The loyal people came out TO greet and welcome
| the ragged heroes with an abundance Of cooked
food. The loyal State of Ohio, across the river,
looked like an enchanted land to the bronZed,
ragged and hungry men of Morgan's Division.
| The Ohio regiments looked lOngngly across to
the fertile valleys aud beautiful hills Of their
native State.
The troops were transported as rapidly as
possible TO Portsmouth, o., and the Ohio regi-
ments were once more on their native heath,
on ground eonsecated TO loyalty. among
friends who honored their bravery and cheered
their torn and tattercd battle-fags. They were
feasted on the best the country afforded by
loyal citizens who felt honored by the privi-
lege of ministering TO them. At Portsmouth
the division went into camp to reoranigze and
rest.
Gen. Morgan made lengthy report Of the
evacuation, and the causes which led to il, 10
Maj j.-Gen. Ii. G. Wright, commanding the
Department of the Ohio which the latter for
warded with the following Endorsement:
CINCINNATI. o.. Oct. Is, 1861
Gen O. w CuILUM Chief of Staff Headquarters
OF the Army of the United States.
GENERAL: have the honor herewith to trans
init a copy OF the report Of Brig. Gen. Geo. w,
Morgan dated the i2th inst detailing the crcum-
stances Of the withdrawal OF his forces from Cum
berland Gap. While the evacuation Of tho Gap i.
10 be regretted do not see with starvation staring
him in the face and with certainty of relie
being afforded, how he could have come to any
other conclusion than the one arrived at. The
march OF Gen Morgan from Cumberland Gap tc
the Ohio River most successfully accomplished
and reflects much credit upon him and his officer.
for the skill with which II was conducted, and
upon the men for the eheerfulness with which they
bore the hardships OF a toisome march of some 2Os
miles scanty fare, over a country aording ttle
subsistence. and often for long marches without
water. III. q. WRIGHT.
| Major General. Commanding.
The evacuation Of Cumberland Gap wa:
yar;ously criticized at the time, and strongly
censured by Gen Halleck; but il has long q
been shown to have been the onl ywise course lett
, in the strait in which Morgan was placed, anC
amply and fully justified. Col. Vance, VIII,
commanded a brigade in Stevenson's army
wrote to Gen. Morgan in 1864 describing tht
plan by which Stevenson, within 4S hour
more, would have surrounded the Gap, block
AIDED and occupied all the roads, cutting off al
avenues of Morgan's escape with his trains ant
! artillery. Col. Vance says:
1t was the opinion Of every officer Of rank in on
army that You moved at sactly the right time, ant
! with great skill a:.i Judgment.
. WHAT BRAGG SAID.
In his official report Gen. Bragg says of tn
operations of the Confederate army in Ken
tucky:
Orders had also been given for a close obser
: | walton OF the enemy at Cumberland Gap, and tina
lac should be intercepted In any attempt to escape
j. | On my arrival st BaTdstown i learned from Ger
Q Smith that the enemy moving from CumbeI
4 land Gkp, endeayorng to escape by the valley G
| the Sandy River. in Eastern Kentucky. and tha
| he had sent his whole available force in pursuit 1
: | sufficient force to prevent this escape and comps
1 | the enemy's surrender had been ordered aud cou
fdently expected from another quarter to have fol
a lowed Smiths movements in time for this purpos,
: | Circumstances in the then isolated position, an
= over which could not control had prevented tn
}, contamination confidently relied on, and
v | essary to success The delay resulting from tn
& ! pursuit Of the enemy by Gen. Smith prevented
4 junction Of our forces, and enabled Gen. Buell.
reach Louisville before the assault could be mad
upon that city.
In this way Gen. Morgan also contributed I
: the defense of Louisville, besides saving h